Nigerians have criticised Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, over his call for Nigerians to disregard a now viral video of the president begging Nigerians to endure the current hardship in the country.
Tinubu, in an official video released by the State House on Wednesday, acknowledged the hardship Nigerians are going through as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
The President also admitted that an “avoidable lag” between subsidy removal and his “good and helpful plans” compounded Nigerians’ pains.
He said, “Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us, and there’s no doubt that it is tough on us, but I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture.
“All our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they would work. Sadly, there was an avoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully on line.”
Speaking on the video, Onanuga, in a statement on X on Wednesday, mentioned that the video “is not a new video.”
He mentioned that the president has not made any public statement since the nationwide broadcast on Sunday.
Onanuga said, “A trending video of President Tinubu that came out on Wednesday is not a new video. It’s a clip from the broadcast he made last year. President Tinubu has not made any other public statement since his last broadcast on Sunday.”
Onanuga’s statement has infuriated Nigerians, with some berating him for undermining Tinubu’s effort to pacify Nigerians.
Others also pointed out the alleged divide within Tinubu’s media team, stating that there’s “confusion” among them.
Reacting to Onanuga’s claims, an X user identified as Pure Stanley described the presidential aide as “shameless” for undermining his principal.
“Bayo Onanuga, you are a very shameful man that will keep defending rubbish.
“Tinubu himself posted the video, or he did it to reassure Nigerians that they need to keep enduring hardship and endure pains while he is spending our money on things that don’t matter.” Stanley stated.
In his reaction, Okoli Stephen Izuchukwu lamented over the confusion among Tinubu’s team. He said, “Tinubu’s Twitter handle posted a video of Tinubu addressing the protest; Bayo Onanuga just came up to say it is fake.
“Dear spirit of confusion in the presidential villa, please don’t stop.”
Sharing similar sentiment, Ubong Abia said, “Tinubu, your team caused the confusion; the same team is exonerating itself from the confusion.
“The video was posted by @officialABAT without any caption. Why didn’t you explain that it’s an old video?
“You are sounding here as if it was first old video recirculated by others. Incompetence.”
“I think this confirms that either the media team of the president is very disorganised or that Onanuga needs some time off President Tinubu’s media team. Negative results of nepotism playing out,Olorogun stated.
Amid severe criticisms, Onanuga deleted the tweet in the early hours of Today.
